Sheamus was who I guessed for Bryan before the Wyatt nonsense started. There is a storyline since Sheamus kickstarted the Yes movement, and he'll probably be playing into his rep as Hunter's boy.

Still, I don't know how you take the big eight names in the company and come up with that card. And if that has to be it, then why wouldn't you just do HHH/Bryan to pay off the angle they are apparently unaware they've been building for six months? But not just with Bryan -- that as a Wrestlemania match for John "Feed Us More" Cena is still kind of ridiculous. It's basically his Austin/Hall year. (When he wrestled Miz, he was really feuding with the Rock.)

I doubt anything is locked in although we'll definitely have a much better idea by the end of the weekend. I mean, yeah, they should know who's winning the Rumble by now, right? Right??

I wouldn't mind Bryan/Sheamus so that Bryan can redeem his loss two years ago, although there are MUCH better uses for both on the card.

Batista/Orton doesn't necessarily make me cringe, but just watching the "beginning" of it on Monday (if it's even to continue, if it's even for the title) didn't fill me with much hope. Cena/Rock II wasn't exactly the most anticipated match last year, but at least it was set up and had a reason for happening that didn't come out of nowhere.

They kind of did something similar two years ago with Jericho/Punk, with a part timer coming back around Rumble time to challenge for the title, but at least there Rock/Cena I was clearly the main event and the match was designed to put CM Punk over. This is the end of Orton's reign of terror that we've been going through for MONTHS and no one is really clamoring for Batista to be the anti-authority figure to beat him.

And really, Batista isn't anti-authority, so are we cheering for HHH and Stephanie's buddy to win this one and become the new Corporate Champion that they can control?

Edit: Obviously, Sheamus is long overdue for a heel turn, and once they build him back up, a Bryan feud is a natural fit that will absolutely get my money impressionable 18-49 male eyeballs. But this is pretty clearly the wrong time and a waste of five months of (inadvertent) Bryan buildup. The network's big debut is no time for self-indulgent booking...

The other 'ugh' thing about this proposed card is that it means Orton will keep the WWE title all the way to Mania, which means he'll get past Lesnar next month. I was really hoping for at least Batista/Lesnar, since that's a fresh matchup and it'd save Lesnar from doing another unnecessary job (to Orton).

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The one upside of a Bryan-Sheamus match is that, if it's given proper time, it could be a great hardhitting match.

But yeah, unless they bring back Sheamus asap and give people time to care about this match, nobody is going to buy into it.IF they are willing to buy into it anyways.And it's an easy build too. "I beat you in 18 seconds, Danny-boy. What makes you think you can beat me this time?"

I have no problem with Punk-Hunter, Taker-Lesnar.Both could be good-to-great matches.Batista-Orton..could be decent. I have nothing against either guy tho they don't set my world on fire.Cena-Wyatt? Bray will be awesome, Cena will joke then shout all possible threats away.

If this is the final card, then I think it's 100% necessary to move the title onto Sheamus at Elimination Chamber. That leaves him and Bryan doing a title match reprise (in reversed roles), which would actually be pretty interesting. Batista should not be in the title picture until he knocks the ring rust off, but a match between him and Orton is actually a good idea, and there's a lot to play around with in the booking. The other stuff isn't exactly what I'd go with if it were up to me, but I don't think any of it is necessarily bad.

If that is the card then they've somehow managed to come up with the least appealing line-up possible from a roster with such great potential. Only Brock/Taker interests me even slightly from the above, which is a shame since all of the previously speculated cards had me more interested than any Mania in years.

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Ugh, I know they've been planning on doing Brock and Undertaker for like ever now, but part of the fun of Undertaker matches is the suspension of disbelief that he might lose, and much like with Rock and Cena last year, the outcome seems like such a foregone conclusion that I'll personally have a hard time buying into the drama of the match. The rest of that card could be pretty good if they're given the right amount of time, but it's just...all things we've seen before, and Wyatt vs Cena.

Fortunately the people in charge of these things are nothing if not capricious, so we'll just have to wait until tomorrow night before anything clears up.

John Cena vs Bray Wyatt seems like a lock at this point. Everything else is up in the air.

Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar still seems like the most likely Streak match, but with Sting reportedly signing and Brock (presumably) challenging Batista for his WrestleMania title shot at Elimination Chamber, there's at least a little intrigue there.

There were briefly rumours of Daniel Bryan vs Batista vs Randy Orton for the World title being discussed, but it's since emerged that the story was fabricated. That match makes all the sense in the world though and wouldn't surprise me. Bryan vs Sheamus would no doubt be a great match, but it's not the match people want to see, and if Batista vs Orton goes on last, the crowd are gonna shit all over it. Which would be fun to watch, but probably not what they want in the main event of their milestone WrestleMania and first Network PPV.

With The Shield set to implode, a triple threat match between those guys would make a lot of sense, with Roman Reigns being the likely winner. The match could be a classic too.

They still have plenty of time to get to Punk vs HHH, but with Punk potentially leaving shortly after WrestleMania and seemingly giving less of a fuck by the day, I get this sinking feeling that HHH is gonna back out of the match and have Kane take his place instead. Which would kinda suck.

Cody Rhodes vs Goldust is looking more and more likely after the Royal Rumble and the dropping of the tag titles to the NAO. Speaking of those tag titles, I can't see the NAO holding them for long, and the Usos seem like they're being primed as the next tag team champions. Usos vs NAO sounds like a prime candidate for the You Tube pre-show match.

With Ryback being relegated to only being used in sporadic tag losses, the rumoured match with Goldberg seems unlikely (not to mention Goldberg wanting more money than they're prepared to pay him). There were rumours of Warrior working a match with him too, but I can't see it. While it would be unfathomably horrendous, a large part of me would be overjoyed if they somehow booked Hogan and Warrior vs Piper and Jake Roberts in a Legends match. The two biggest faces of the late 80s/early 90s vs the two biggest heels of the late 80s/early 90s (kinda) in a match at least 25 years in the making.

With Zeb bitching Swagger out, I have to assume they're looking at swerving us all and having them both turn on Cesaro. The Giant Swing is too over for Cesaro not to be a face and a match between them could be pretty great.

Apparently when asked who he'd want to face at WrestleMania, Rey Mysterio answered Alberto Del Rio. The two have been feuding on and off for years now so maybe a blow-off match at Mania is on the cards.

With no obvious challenger to AJ's Divas title, I have to assume they'll be doing some kind of multi-Diva tag match. Maybe the Total Divas vs everyone else.

Considering what another post is reporting about CM Punk taking his ball and heading home, I think we can safely say that this is NOT 'set in stone.' Unless Punk leaving was because he didn't want to job to HHH.

Bryan/HHH makes a whole lot more sense anyway, since HHH represents the corporate jackassery that's been holding Bryan down since Summerslam, and Sheamus has barely interacted with Bryan that I've seen since that 8 second loss at Wrestlemania. Since they obviously can't do Punk/HHH with one of the two at home, I'm betting they have Sheamus do something else and Bryan takes on HHH with the stipulation that if Bryan wins, he gets a title shot and if HHH wins, Bryan gets no more title shots ever. THAT will get 70k people chanting "YES!"

Originally posted by TheGreatWhiteBobWhile it would be unfathomably horrendous, a large part of me would be overjoyed if they somehow booked Hogan and Warrior vs Piper and Jake Roberts in a Legends match. The two biggest faces of the late 80s/early 90s vs the two biggest heels of the late 80s/early 90s (kinda) in a match at least 25 years in the making.

Should we be concerned that there isn't a "dream" match for Wrestlemania? Or maybe a match that has been building for months to blowoff? Is there an obvious choice that I'm missing? Closest to it is Cena/Taker IMO.

Originally posted by RecklessEricShould we be concerned that there isn't a "dream" match for Wrestlemania? Or maybe a match that has been building for months to blowoff? Is there an obvious choice that I'm missing? Closest to it is Cena/Taker IMO.

I was talking to my friend today about whether he is ordering Mania, short answer...no. He said there was nothing new or special about any of the rumored matches. Lesnar/Taker, been there done that with a Hell in a Cell maybe the last great one. Orton/Batista is a feud from 8 years ago that got no heat. Cena/Bray was new, but we all know that Bray is going to be put on the Cena scrap pile of up and comers. HHH/Bryan could be good or a total trainwreck and if Bryan beats HHH in the Yes Lock. He would be the third or fourth guy to make HHH tap at Mania. There is really nothing that special to Mania this year. Even if they do get Hogan in Piper's Pit, we have seen that act before as well. Their best bet was to go with Bryan in the title match winning it even if it was against an old foe, it would give the fans their moment as well as cement Bryan as a top guy.

The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.

Card subject to change following utter rejection of the Royal Rumble and CM Punk walking out.

Originally posted by RecklessEricShould we be concerned that there isn't a "dream" match for Wrestlemania? Or maybe a match that has been building for months to blowoff? Is there an obvious choice that I'm missing? Closest to it is Cena/Taker IMO.

Funny enough, Bryan vs. HHH, which wasn't on the planned card, will apparently now be that long-built storyline match. I think in their eyes Streak Undertaker vs. New MMA Lesnar is a big dream match. I guess we'll see; insert the usual about prior Lesnar jobs here. But it's definitely reminiscent of the 2009 and 2011 builds when they seemed to make it all up in January.

Punk would get a pretty big pop on the post-Mania Raw. Here I already had Sting pegged for that spot.

Today's Observer says Hogan will probably be the host of Wrestlemania, like Rock was the first time. Hogan is supposed to induct the Ultimate Warrior.

Also, Extreme Rules was not originally scheduled for Seattle but the company changed it two weeks ago, so something big with regard to the Yes Movement is supposed to go down there. I think in the company's eyes, Bryan exorcising the Sheamus daemon at Wrestlemania and then challenging for the title the next month in MITB '11: The Sequel would've been fine and dandy. But the Rumble crowd had already run out of patience from being jerked around by guest ref screwjobs and Wyatt Family brainwashings.

Originally posted by lotjxTheir best bet was to go with Bryan in the title match winning it even if it was against an old foe, it would give the fans their moment as well as cement Bryan as a top guy.

Yeah IMO this is still the best bet, because without adding Bryan, you still have to run Batista vs. Orton. Remember the futile two-month long effort to get a 50/50 reaction for Cena in Miami? I picture that for Batista.

Adding Bryan to Orton/Batista works for me - so long as Bryan walks IN the challenger and OUT the champ. Bryan versus initial "best for business face of the company" and "out of nowhere returning vet who might be the replacement best for business face of the company" - or OONRVWMBTRBFBFOTC for short - and emerging against all odds is a story I'd still be all about come Mania time. Throw HBK in there as the ref and Triple H ringside for super shenanigans and Bryan beating those odds gets me and 69,999 friends chanting "YES" together, for sure.